The Latest: 9/11 group to donate $100K to firefighter family

Mar. 24, 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on the death of a New York City firefighter in a blaze on a movie set in a former jazz club (all times local):

8:15 p.m.

A foundation established to honor a firefighter who died in the Sept. 11 attacks will contribute $100,000 for the family of a firefighter who was fatally injured on a movie set in Harlem.

The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation says it will donate the money toward paying off the mortgage on firefighter Michael Davidson's family home on Long Island.

Davidson was killed in a fire that started Thursday night on the Harlem set of the movie "Motherless Brooklyn."

The 37-year-old firefighter left a wife and four children.

The producers and crew of the movie say they'll work with Tunnel To Towers to help the foundation reach its goal of getting the family's mortgage paid off.

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7 p.m.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (BLAH'-zee-oh) has visited the scene of a blaze that killed a firefighter who got separated from his colleagues in a burning building that was serving as a movie set.

The Democratic mayor looked at the damage and conferred with fire officials at the Harlem building Friday evening. Earlier, De Blasio said the city "lost a hero" and ordered City Hall flags to be flown at half-staff to honor fallen firefighter Michael Davidson.

The blaze erupted around 11 p.m. Thursday in the basement of the building, which once housed a jazz club. It was being used as a set for "Motherless Brooklyn," directed by Edward Norton.

The mayor had left Thursday night for a Florida weekend but returned because of the blaze.

The cause hasn't been determined.

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5:30 p.m.

The charitable arm of New York City's fire department is donating $25,000 and collecting contributions for the family of a firefighter who died in a blaze on a movie set at a former jazz club.

The FDNY Foundation announced the charitable effort Friday. Information on donating is available on the foundation's website.

Firefighter Michael Davidson was cited for bravery four times during his 15 years on the job. He was the son of a retired New York City firefighter and leaves a wife and four children.

The blaze erupted Thursday night in the basement of a Harlem building. It was being used as a set for "Motherless Brooklyn," directed by Edward Norton.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro (NEYE'-groh) said Davidson became separated from his colleagues in the rapidly worsening fire.

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4:50 p.m.

A procession of fire trucks has borne the body of a New York City firefighter to a suburban funeral home after he died battling a blaze on a movie set in a former jazz club.

The motorcade carrying firefighter Michael R. Davidson's body arrived Friday afternoon at a funeral home in Floral Park. It's the Long Island community where Davidson lived with his wife and four children.

As the procession traveled down the Long Island Expressway, firefighters waited on overpasses and saluted as it passed.

The blaze erupted Thursday night in the basement of an unoccupied Harlem building. It was being used as a set for "Motherless Brooklyn," directed by Edward Norton.

Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro (NEYE'-groh) said Davidson became separated from his colleagues in the rapidly worsening blaze.

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5 a.m.

A New York City firefighter has been killed after a massive fire broke out at a building in Harlem where a movie directed by Edward Norton was being shot.

New York Fire Department Commissioner Daniel Nigro said the blaze erupted in the basement of an unoccupied residential building about 11 p.m. Thursday. Nigro said two other firefighters suffered burns and were in serious condition, and three other people were injured.

FDNY officials identified the firefighter killed as 37-year-old Michael R. Davidson, a 15-year department veteran. They say Davidson is survived by a wife and four children.

The blaze broke out on the set of "Motherless Brooklyn," starring Norton, Bruce Willis, Willem Dafoe and Alec Baldwin.

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4:30 a.m.

A New York City firefighter has been killed after a massive fire broke out at a building in Harlem where a movie directed by Ed Norton was being shot.

FDNY officials said in a tweet that the blaze broke out about 11 p.m. Thursday in the basement of the building on St. Nicolas Avenue. Authorities say at least one other person was injured and taken to an area hospital. It was not immediately clear whether that person also was a firefighter.